Tactile fremitus refers to which of the following?

Tactile fremitus refers to which of the following?

• A. A crackling sensation under the skin.
• B. Air in the pleural space.
• C. Vibrations that can be felt on the chest wall.
• D. Dullness on percussion.

Answer: (C)

Tactile fremitus is the palpable vibration felt on the chest wall when a patient speaks. The vibrations start at the vocal cords, travel through the airways and lung tissue, and reach the chest surface where you place your hand to feel them. When lung tissue is solidified or filled with fluid, these vibrations are transmitted more effectively, so fremitus increases. If air or fluid separates the lung from the chest wall, such as in pneumothorax or pleural effusion, the vibrations are dampened and fremitus decreases. The vibration felt on the chest wall during speaking is the hallmark of tactile fremitus. The other findings describe different phenomena: a crackling sensation under the skin is subcutaneous emphysema, air in the pleural space is a pneumothorax, and dullness on percussion indicates density like consolidation or effusion rather than the tactile vibration itself.

Tactile fremitus is the palpable vibration felt on the chest wall when a patient speaks. The vibrations start at the vocal cords, travel through the airways and lung tissue, and reach the chest surface where you place your hand to feel them. When lung tissue is solidified or filled with fluid, these vibrations are transmitted more effectively, so fremitus increases. If air or fluid separates the lung from the chest wall, such as in pneumothorax or pleural effusion, the vibrations are dampened and fremitus decreases. The vibration felt on the chest wall during speaking is the hallmark of tactile fremitus. The other findings describe different phenomena: a crackling sensation under the skin is subcutaneous emphysema, air in the pleural space is a pneumothorax, and dullness on percussion indicates density like consolidation or effusion rather than the tactile vibration itself.